Negotiator Episode 31 Recap
> Negotiator Recap
After a distressing call from Xia Shanshan following a call with Lao Qi, Tong Wei, who was on a date with Xie Xiaofei, rushed to Shanshan’s apartment. Shanshan was crying, telling Tong Wei that Lao Qi's ex-wife wanted her to abort the child. Tong Wei discovered Shanshan collapsed on the floor with a high fever.
She quickly took Shanshan to the hospital, where the doctor informed them that Shanshan had a 40-degree fever, which was not good for the baby in her womb, and the situation was not optimistic. Xie Xiaofei also accompanied Tong Wei at the hospital, advising her to help Shanshan overcome her inner demons and reminding her that many people loved her.
The next morning, Shanshan woke up, telling Tong Wei she dreamed she gave birth to a daughter, happily imagining the child's cute appearance and the sound of calling her "mom." Xia Shanshan also made a brave decision to break up with Lao Qi after being discharged and take on the responsibility of raising the child herself. Tong Wei happily encouraged Shanshan, promising to be the baby's godmother. Meanwhile, Yang Xiao and Zhao Chenxi had dinner.
Yang Xiao tried to please Zhao Chenxi, but her attitude was indifferent, making him feel a growing distance despite their relationship. Zhao Chenxi excused herself early, citing discomfort, and went home. She then contacted Xie Xiaofei and met him at his restaurant. Xie Xiaofei saw Zhao Chenxi looking dejected, saying she had "accepted her fate." Sensing her unhappiness, Xie Xiaofei took her to a quiet mountain range to vent.
On the mountaintop, Xie Xiaofei loudly cursed Xie Tiancheng, while Zhao Chenxi, after some encouragement, yelled about being tired, her dissatisfaction with her mother and Yang Xiao, and even scolded Xie Xiaofei, releasing all her pent-up emotions. Tong Wei went to the restaurant to wait for Xie Xiaofei, but he was nowhere to be found, and she eventually left as the restaurant prepared to close.
After her cathartic experience on the mountain, Zhao Chenxi felt much better, apologetically acknowledging her emotional outburst. Xie Xiaofei comforted her, advising her not to always pretend to be perfect and to embrace her true feelings. His words deeply moved Zhao Chenxi, who admitted that only with him could she be her true self.
Xie Xiaofei declined a ride, taking a public bus home, but Zhao Chenxi followed him in her car and discovered he was living in a shared apartment. She offered him financial help again, but he refused before she could finish speaking. Overcome with emotion, Zhao Chenxi embraced Xie Xiaofei, a moment witnessed by Shang Bichen from a window upstairs.
Later that evening, Zhao Chenxi's mother confronted her, furious that she had been with Xie Xiaofei and threatening her own life if she saw him again. Xie Xiaofei later called Tong Wei to update her on the restaurant's business, noting an increase in customers because his cousin, Xie Tianyou, was using his connections to promote Haoke.
Tong Wei observed that Xie Tianyou seemed to regret his past actions, but Xie Xiaofei explained that he believed Xie Tianyou was more suited to inherit Xie Corporation due to his maturity and control, despite being younger. Xie Xiaofei admitted he had been trying to convince his father to give the position to Xie Tianyou for years, planning to do so himself after his father's retirement.
Tong Wei encouraged him to share these thoughts with Xie Tianyou, believing he needed Xie Xiaofei's approval. Tong Wei then received a call from Zhao Chenxi, who revealed her true purpose in China was to persuade Xie Xiaofei (whom she referred to as "my brother" in this context) to sign an equity transfer agreement.
Zhao Chenxi explained that Xie Tiancheng was pressuring Xie Xiaofei and his father to transfer equity, using the cost of Xie Xiaofei's mother's life support, which was paid by Xie Corporation, as leverage. Xie Tiancheng had given them only seven days to comply, and with only three days left, Zhao Chenxi warned that refusal would endanger Xie Xiaofei's mother and provoke Xie Tiancheng to use more vicious tactics.
She advised them to take advantage of the profitable state, take the money, and leave. Tong Wei asked if this wasn't letting Xie Tiancheng off too easily, but Zhao Chenxi insisted they couldn't win against him in their current situation. Later, Xie Xiaofei and Tong Wei discussed the situation. Xie Xiaofei confirmed Xie Tianyou had told him everything, and he was still considering whether to sign the equity transfer agreement.
Tong Wei strongly advised against it, explaining that signing would harm Xie Corporation, while refusing could harm his mother. She suggested a "third path" involving asking for help from one person: his father. Tong Wei encouraged Xie Xiaofei to call his father, which he did via video call. Xie Xiaofei's father and mother were delighted to hear from him.
During the call, his father mentioned an old employee, Uncle Zheng, who had been loyal for thirty years but was now facing dismissal by Xie Tiancheng, highlighting Xie Tiancheng's ruthlessness. Xie Xiaofei, hiding his struggles, claimed to be doing particularly well in Shanghai, living in a guest room (for better signal), having found a good job, and making progress with a business partner. He promised his father he would reclaim Xie Corporation.
After the call, Tong Wei chastised Xie Xiaofei for not being honest with his father about his temporary job, shared apartment, and the equity transfer situation. Xie Xiaofei stated that he needed to "grow up" and leave the past behind. He reiterated his refusal to sign the agreement, vowing to prevent Xie Tiancheng from ruining Xie Corporation. Tong Wei then urged him to call his father weekly. Separately, Xie Tianyou had dinner with his parents.
He informed them that some account shares had been frozen and large expenditures deferred due to Uncle Cheng (Xie Tiancheng) becoming chairman. He then revealed that Xie Tiancheng was threatening to cut off his aunt's (Xie Xiaofei's mother's) medical expenses if Xie Xiaofei and his father didn't sign the equity transfer agreement.
His father, outraged, refused to give up his shares, stating they were his last bargaining chip, and placed his hope on Xie Xiaofei finding Tang Mi Cai to defeat Xie Tiancheng. The next day at the Futong Law Firm, Shang Bichen indirectly asked Tong Wei if she was busy, then accidentally blurted out that she had seen Xie Xiaofei and Zhao Chenxi.
She expressed concern that Xie Xiaofei might change his mind, but Tong Wei asserted her trust in him, saying that she didn't want to believe in dirty things in love and that they had never given up on each other in important moments, so she didn't want to suspect and doubt each other. Tong Wei also encouraged Shang Bichen to pursue Qin Tianyu if she liked him.
Inspired by Tong Wei's words, Shang Bichen stayed after work to confess her feelings to Qin Tianyu. Qin Tianyu praised her virtues and thanked her for her long-standing companionship but ultimately said he preferred to be like an older brother to her. Although disappointed, Shang Bichen was not discouraged and resolved to become even better. Tong Wei was later seen speaking to a real estate agent about selling her house.
Upon returning home, her aunt remarked on a neighbor selling his house and how regrettable it was to sell such a good property. Later, her aunt expressed her anger to her uncle that Tong Wei's name was solely on the house deed, despite them having looked after her for over a decade. She revealed she had secretly learned the house was worth 10 million yuan.
Her aunt worried that if Tong Wei married Xie Xiaofei, he, with his "good brain," might try to kick them out. Her uncle dismissed her concerns, reassuring her that Tong Wei wasn't like that and that the house wasn't lying idle, but the aunt remained convinced that someday he would regret not listening to her. Later, Tong Wei sought Qin Tianyu's help to find a good obstetrician, clarifying it was for Shanshan.
At work, Shanshan appeared distracted, prompting colleagues to ask if she was unwell. Gao Yuan confronted Shanshan, wondering why she had been ignoring his messages. Shanshan explained she was in a bad mood because her "friend" was pregnant, and the baby was not doing well, so she was helping her look for a doctor. Gao Yuan immediately offered his aunt's help, who was the Director of Obstetrics at a maternity hospital. Shanshan called Tong Wei, concerned about maintaining her cover.
Tong Wei offered to go with her, but Shanshan insisted she would handle it alone. The next day, Shanshan arrived at Gao Yuan's aunt's office alone. Gao Yuan unexpectedly appeared, explaining he was worried and had secretly come. His aunt confirmed that Shanshan was in the ultrasound room but that Gao Yuan's girlfriend had not come with her. Gao Yuan, hearing his aunt call the patient "Shan Shan," realized with shock that "her friend" was in fact Xia Shanshan.
